A COUNCIL chief has slammed flippant fly-tippers who dumped large piles of rubbish at two Test Valley beauty spots.

The piles of rubbish were discovered by council workers on footpaths near Enham Lane, Charlton, and Dole Woods, Hurstbourne Tarrant, last week.

The former contained a mixture of garden and household waste, while the latter consisted mainly of kitchen materials.

The site at Enham Lane was targeted last Tuesday, less than 24 hours after council staff had cleared a previous pile left by thoughtless flytippers over the August Bank Holiday.

Test Valley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for environmental services Cllr Graham Stallard has since described the act as ‘absolutely disgusting’.

He said: “Unfortunately there have been several incidents of rubbish being flytipped in Test Valley in the past couple of weeks.

“There have been two large fly tips at Enham Lane, Charlton on consecutive days, as well as kitchen materials left at the entrance to Dole Woods, Hurstbourne Tarrant.

“It is absolutely disgusting and we are determined to find those responsible.

“We are lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country and yet there are those who find it acceptable to dump their rubbish in this way.

“If anyone has any information about any of the three incidents, we would urge them to contact the council as soon as possible. Any information will be treated in strict confidence.”

Cllr Stallard’s comments come in the same week that Hampshire County Council released a statement promising to gettough on fly-tippers.

Councillor Rob Humby, executive member for environment and transport at HCC, said: “Fly-tipping is illegal, damaging to the environment and totally unacceptable.

“I’ve lived in Hampshire all my life, it’s a beautiful and unique part of the world – and I would like to help keep it that way.

“By working closely with all our partner organisations with a responsibility or interest in reducing fly-tipping, we can put in some robust measures to tackle illegally dumped waste, head-on.”

Cllr Humby added: “Flytipping brings with it a cost to all of us through our council tax.

“Dealing with fly-tipping is a huge drain on public sector resources, and it’s important that a message goes out collectively that fly-tipping in Hampshire will not be tolerated.”